A few days into the new year, many of us are already taking stock. Some resolutions still feel steady. Others may be wobbling a bit. That is often how beginnings go. We start with hope, meet real life quickly, and then discover what we truly need as we move forward. January 6 meets us right there, offering a moment to pause, breathe, and remember that God walks with us into this new year.
For the church, January 6 is Epiphany, the day we remember Christ's revelation to the world. The Magi follow a star, trusting that the light will lead them to a holy place. Epiphany reminds us that God still reveals light in our lives, not all at once, but step by step. In this season, we are invited to notice where that light is showing up and to listen for God’s gentle guidance.
In many homes across the United States, especially within Latino and Caribbean communities, January 6 is celebrated as Three Kings Day. Families gather, children are delighted, and traditions are shared with care. These moments reflect the heart of faith. God meets us in relationships, in laughter, in stories told again and again, and in the passing on of love from one generation to the next.
In some places, January 6 also marks the beginning of the Mardi Gras season. For me, as someone from Louisiana, that means King Cakes appearing almost overnight and a familiar sense that something joyful is on the horizon. Communities begin preparing for celebration, gathering around tables, sharing stories, and marking time together. Even here, there is something faithful to notice. Joy has always had a place in the life of God’s people. Delight, gratitude, and community are part of how God shapes and sustains us.
Alongside these moments of celebration and tradition, many of us cannot think of January 6 without remembering the painful events at the U.S. Capitol in 2021. That memory can feel heavy and unsettling. Epiphany does not ask us to look away from such moments. Instead, it invites us to trust that God’s light shines into places of confusion, division, and hurt. Light reveals what is broken so that healing can begin.
As this year unfolds, January 6 offers a quiet blessing. It reassures us that God is not waiting for perfect resolutions or flawless starts. God meets us in the middle of our efforts, our questions, and our weariness. As people called to walk together in faith, clergy and laity alike are invited to follow the light we see today, to lead and support one another with care, and to trust that God is still revealing grace, even now, even here.